July 27, 2026 - I Can Do All Things
- brooks16055
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Ezra 8:15-20 NIV
[15] I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. [16] So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, [17] and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. [18] Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; [19] and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. [20] They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.
When Ezra sends for Levites to come and serve at the house of God there is a great response and He give all the glory to God. He recognized that the response was more than he could have expected on His own. He knew that God was the reason. Today I am preparing to give a lesson on Phil 3:14 and John 15:5 talking about how when we stay with Jesus and stay connected to Him we can do things and endure things that we would not be able to do and endure on our own. Ezra is taking on a task that if he tried to do it on his own he would be overwhelmed and likely fail but instead he is trusting in God to get things done and to provide all they need. He does the same for us that is why we have scriptures like Phil 3:14 and John 15:5 to learn and memorize.
Ezra 8:21
[21] There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
Ezra had bragged to the king about how God would care for them because they looked to Him so he didn't ask for the king to send help for them to keep them safe. This was a dangerous journey and they trusted in God to get them there. He knew God was the one who was making this all happen. I think when we tell others about our God, what He has done and what we know He will do, it strengthens us and helps us to remember to trust in Him.
Ezra 8:31-32 NIV
[31] On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. [32] So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.
He recognizes God's hand in their safety. When he gets there he doesn't jump in and start doing things. They rest for 3 days. He was patient and knew the importance of rest after a long journey then they got to work. When we are called to service we must also be patient and have balance in our lives.
Ezra 8:35 NIV
[35] Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord.
The first thing was to make their offerings to God. When we are brought through difficult things and even when things are not difficult if we are connected to Jesus and trust in Him in all that we do we should prioritize acknowledging Him and honoring Him first before anything else.
Ezra 9:9 NIV
[9] Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
Acknowledge Him in all things and give Him the praise for all things that we do and accomplish because it is through Him that we can do all things.
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